Electrical fitting for use with conductor suspension member



May 26, 1964 M. BETHEA, JR 3, ,3

ELECTRICAL FITTING FOR USE WITH CONDUCTOR SUSPENSION MEMBER Filed Nov. 2, 1961 I I g i INVENTOR. Z0 Ma/calm. .Beflzeaair RfH-o rn. egs

United States Patent 3 134,842 ELECTREQAL FiTTlN- FOR USE WITH CONDUC- TOR SUSPENSION MEMBER Malcolm Bethea, Jan, PA). Box 1407, Birmingham, Ala. Filed Nov. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 149,720 3 (Ziaims. (Cl. 17479) This invention relates to an electrical fitting and more particularly to an electrical fitting for use in holding an electrical conductor away from its support member.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide an electrical fitting of the character designated which shall be adapted for attachment to a preformed armor member having one end thereof connected to an electrical conductor and the other end thereof connected to an insulator assembly which in turn is connected to a support member whereby the fitting holds the electrical conductor in spaced relation to the support member, thereby preventing flash over from the conductor to the support member and at the same time requiring a minimum number of insulators.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electrical fitting of the character designated which serves as a guide to hold the conductor in a positive position to thereby maintain the required electrical clearance between the conductor and the support member therefor.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrical fitting of the character designated which shall be particularly adapted for use in holding relatively large electrical cables in spaced relation to the support means therefor.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an electrical fitting of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which may be assembled and disassembled in a minimum of time.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, power lines impressed with high voltages must be held at a certain minimum electrical clearance from the support means therefor. More specifically, the distance that the electrical conductor is held from the support member therefor, such as a girder, must be at least as great as the flash distance. Where a relatively heavy electrical conductor is connected to a support member by a flexible member and the electrical conductor is bent whereby it is at a safe distance from the support member, the conductor has a tendency to return to its original position whereby the minimum electrical clearance is not maintained. Also, an excessive number of insulators are required in order to hold the electrical conductor at the required clearance from the support member.

Briefly, my improved electrical fitting comprises gripping elements which are adapted to engage the suspension member which surrounds the electrical conductor. A conductor holding section is also carried by the fitting and extends in an angular direction relative to the portion of the electrical conductor gripped by the gripping elements whereby the portion of the conductor engaging the holding section is held at an angular position in spaced relation to the support member for the insulator assembly, suspension member and the electrical conductor.

Electrical fittings embodying features of my invention 3,134,842 Patented May 26, 1964 are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing the electrical fitting and a portion of the suspension member therefor, the fitting being removed from the suspension member;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, showing the electrical fitting attached to a preformed suspension member;

FlG. 3 is an isometric view showing a modified form of my invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing a further modified form of my invention; and,

KG. 5 is an end elevational view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show an electrical conductor 10 attached to a conventional type, preformed suspension member 11. One end of the preformed suspension member 11 surrounds the electrical conductor 10, as shown in FIG. 2, while the other end thereof loops around a supporting thimble 12 which in turn is connected to one end of an insulator assembly indicated generally at 13. The other end of the insulator assembly 13 is connected to a suitable support member 14-, as shown in PEG. 1. As is well understood in the art to which my invention relates, the preformed suspension member 11 comprises a plurality of spirals of wire-like members which are looped around the thimble 12. and then surround the electrical conductor 10 in a spiral fashion to form a substantially continuous surface of spiral wires which grip the conductor lit. That is to say, as the conductor 10 is pulled in a direction to move out of the spirals of the preformed suspension member 11, the spirals grip the conductor whereby the greater the pull between the connected members, the tighter the spirals of the preformed suspension member engage the conductor. Accordingly, the conductor id is firmly anchored to the end of the preformed suspension member which surrounds the conductor.

Surrounding the preformed suspension member 11, as shown in FIG. 2 is the gripping section 16 of my improved electrical fitting. The gripping section 16 comprises a gripping element 17 which is adapted to engage one side of the suspension member 11 and another gripping element 18 which is positioned axially of the gripping element 17 in position to engage the side of the suspension member 11 opposite the side thereof engaged by the gripping element 17, as shown in FIG. 2. To prevent iateral shifting of the conductor, a lip portion 2% is provided at the free end of gripping element 17, as shown. The gripping elements 17 and 18 are connected to each other by a connector member 1? which extends along one side of the suspension member 11. Connected to the side of the gripping element 18 opposite the side thereof connected to the connector member 19 is a side member 21 which engages the side of the suspension member 11 opposite the side thereof which is engaged by the connector member w. As shown in FIG. 1, the space defined between the gripping element 17 and the gripping element 18 and the adjacent end of the side member 21 is equal substantially the diameter of the suspension member 11 whereby the suspension member 11 may be snapped therebetween to thus facilitate attachment of the fitting to the suspension member.

The portion of the side member 21 remote from the gripping element 17 extends outwardly and upwardly as at 22 and terminates in a conductor holding section 23 which comprises a transverse base member 24 which is adapted to engage the electrical conductor 10, as shown in FIG. 2, and an upstanding flange-like member 26 which is adapted to engage the side of the conductor 1t) opposite the side thereof engaged by the side member 21. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, an open space is defined between the gripping element 17 and the conductor holding section 23 whereby the suspension member 11 extends therethrough for connection to the thimble '12. That is to say, the portion of the suspension member 11 extending beneath the conductor holding section 23 is in axial alignment with the portion thereof which surrounds and engages the electrical conductor 10.

From the foregoing description, the assembly and operation of my improved electrical fitting shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be readily understood. The preformed suspension member 11 is connected to the electrical conductor and the thimble 12 in the usual manner. The clamping section 16 of the fitting is then attached to the suspension member 11 by inserting the suspension member through the opening defined between the gripping element 17 and the adjacent end of the side member 21. The conductor 10 is then bent whereby it is positioned over the flangelike member 26 and is held in spaced relation from the thimble 12 and the support member 14 by its engagement with the transverse portion 24 of the conductor holding section 23. With the conductor 10 thus assembled in the fitting, the conductor is held in a positive position whereby it is maintained at the required distance from the support member 14 at all times. The conductor holding section 23 may extend at any desired angular position relative to the gripping section 16 whereby the conductor 10 is held at any desired angular position relative to the suspension member 11 and the support member 14 therefor.

In FIG. 3 of the drawing, I show a modified form of my invention in which the gripping section 16 is in the form of a sleeve-like member 27. Preferably, the sleeve-like member 27 is provided with a longitudinally extending slit 28 therein whereby the suspension member 11 may be inserted in the sleeve-like member. The sleeve-like member is then crimped into firm engagement with the suspension member 11. That is, a portion of the sleeve-like member 27 is depressed inwardly by a suitable tool whereby it moves into firm engagement with the suspension member 11 to thereby not only anchor the gripping section 16* to the suspension member 11, but also anchor the individual strands of the conductor 16 to the steel core wire thereshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. After the suspension member 11 is positioned within the gripping section 16*, the side walls of the sleeve-like member 2'7 are crimped by a suitable tool whereby the fitting is firmly anchored to the suspension member 11 and the individual strands of wire forming the electrical conductor 10 are depressed to firmly anchor the same to its central steel core member.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, I show a further modified form of my invention in which the gripping section 16 of the fitting comprises matching clamping sections 29 and 31 which are connected to each other by suitable bolts 32 having nuts 33 therefor. Secured to one end of the clamping section 29 is an outwardly and upwardly extending side member 21 which terminates in a conductor holding section 23*. The conductor holding l section comprises a base portion 24 and an upstanding flange portion 26* which extends substantially parallel to the side member 21 for holding the conductor 10 therebetween, as clearly shown in FIG. 5.

The operation of the electrical fitting shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is substantially identical to the operation of the fittings shown in FIGS. 1-3, the principal difference being the manner in which the suspension member 11 is clamped to the gripping section 16 In the fitting shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the nuts 33 are removed from the bolts 32 whereby the suspension member 11 which surrounds the conductor 10 may be inserted between the clamping sections 29 and 31. The electrical conductor 1%) is then positioned over the base member 24 of the conductor holding section 23*, as shown in FIG. 5, whereby it is held at an angular position relative to the portion of the suspension member 11 clamped between the clamping members 29 and 31. Accordingly, the electrical conductor it) is held in spaced relation to the support member for the suspension member 11, as described hereinabove.

Preferably, the clamping members 29 and 31 are provided with sinuously arranged or wavy clamping surfaces indicated by dotted lines at 34 to thereby define constricting surfaces which exert radial pressure to the suspension member 11. Accordingly the suspension member is clamped firmly between the clamping members 29 and 31 thereby aiding in holding the suspension member 11 against axial movement relative to the clamping members.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved electrical clamp for retaining an electrical conductor in spaced relation to the support means there for. By providing a fitting which is adapted for easy attachment to the suspension member and which retains the conductor at a positive angular position relative to the support member, the fitting may be assembled and disassembled in a minimum of time and without having to employ complicated mechanism for holding the conductor at the proper position relative to the supporting means.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible for various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electrical fitting for use with an elongated suspension member having one end thereof surrounding a portion of an electrical conductor and the other end thereof extending outwardly of the conductor and connected by an insulator assembly to a support member,

(a) a gripping section for said fitting attachable to said one end of the suspension member surrounding the conductor,

(b) a conductor holding section connected to said gripping section and extending in an angular direction relative to said gripping section in position to engage the conductor in spaced relation to the gripping section to hold the portion of the conductor engaging said holding section at an angular position relative to the portion thereof held by said gripping section and in spaced relation to said support member for said other end of the suspension member, and

(0) there being an outwardly opening passageway in termediate said gripping section and said holding section of the fitting in axial alignment with said gripping section in position to receive said suspension member when said other end of the suspension member extends in axial alignment with the portion of the conductor surrounded by said suspension member.

2. In an electrical fitting as defined in claim 1 in which the gripping section comprises:

(a) a first gripping element disposed to engage one side of the suspension member surrounding the conductor, (b) a second gripping element disposed to engage the other side of said suspension member, and (c) a connector member at one side of said first and second gripping elements connecting said gripping elements to each other in axially spaced relationship to each other with a gap between said gripping elements of a Width to receive said conductor and the suspension member. 3. An electrical fitting as defined in claim 1 in which the conductor holding section comprises a curved arm connected at one end to said gripping section in position to 6 engage one side of the conductor, and a laterally extending member carried by the other end of said curved arm in spaced relation to said gripping section in position to engage and hold the conductor in spaced relation to the support member for the suspension member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,348,100 Wadsworth May 2, 1944 2,669,600 Bergan Feb. 16, 1954 2,734,933 Klosin Feb. 14, 1956 2,943,135 Bertling June 28, 1960 3,018,319 Quayle Jan. 23, 1962 

1. IN AN ELECTRICAL FITTING FOR USE WITH AN ELONGATED SUSPENSION MEMBER HAVING ONE END THEREOF SURROUNDING A PORTION OF AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR AND THE OTHER END THEREOF EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF THE CONDUCTOR AND CONNECTED BY AN INSULATOR ASSEMBLY TO A SUPPORT MEMBER, (A) A GRIPPING SECTION FOR SAID FITTING ATTACHABLE TO SAID ONE END OF THE SUSPENSION MEMBER SURROUNDING THE CONDUCTOR, (B) A CONDUCTOR HOLDING SECTION CONNECTED TO SAID GRIPPING SECTION AND EXTENDING IN AN ANGULAR DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID GRIPPING SECTION IN POSITION TO ENGAGE THE CONDUCTOR IN SPACED RELATION TO THE GRIPPING SECTION TO HOLD THE PORTION OF THE CONDUCTOR ENGAGING SAID HOLDING SECTION AT AN ANGULAR POSITION RELATIVE TO THE PORTION THEREOF HELD BY SAID GRIPPING SECTION AND IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SAID OTHER END OF THE SUSPENSION MEMBER, AND (C) THERE BEING AN OUTWARDLY OPENING PASSAGEWAY INTERMEDIATE SAID GRIPPING SECTION AND SAID HOLDING SECTION OF THE FITTING IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID GRIPPING SECTION IN POSITION TO RECEIVE SAID SUSPENSION MEMBER WHEN SAID OTHER END OF THE SUSPENSION MEMBER EXTENDS IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE PORTION OF THE CONDUCTOR SURROUNDED BY SAID SUSPENSION MEMBER. 